Ankle tension board and arch developer



July 29, 1924. 1,502,947

- F. M. FRIESELL ANKLE TENSION BOARD AND ARCH nsvsnonm Filed Nov. 14, 1922' jgiL INVENTOR. iPA/VK M FP/ESELI...

ATTORNEYS;

Patented July 29, 1924,

UNITED STATES FRANK M. FRIESELL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ANKLE TENSION BOARD AND ARCH DEVELOPER.

Application filed November 14, 1922. Serial No. 600,793.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. FRrEsELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in an Ankle Tension Board and Arch Developer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for manipulating the bones of the feet, and especially to means whereby the arch or in step of the foot and the ankle may be treated and raised by pulling action.

Basic principles involved in the treatment of feet by the device forming the subject matter of the present invention are old and well known as they are founded on the principle that a muscle orlimb when tired or strained is almost immediately relieved if relaxed and then stretched in an opposite direction. For instance, if a person assumes a bent over or stooped position for some time, and the back begins to feel tired or pain, such tired feeling or pain is quickly relieved by straightening up and relaxing the muscles and then bending the back in the opposite direction. In other words, it is simply a matter of relaxing and stretching any muscle or group of bones which has been subjected to a strained or cramped position- This principle is familiar to all mankind and most of the animal. world.- Hence, if a natural desire to stretch gives relief, how much more'can be gained by proper application of stretching? Regarding the ankle and arch of thefoot, it is common knowledge that they suffer more strain than any other part of the body, outside of the vital organs. When the human foot is used, either as a means of locomotion or for the purpose of supporting the body, the bones forming the arch and the ankle are compressed and forced downward. This compression tends to separate the bones on the underside and to bring them together on the upper side, this being particularly true of the bones in the arch. Continualpressure in this position w ll in many. lnstances cause weak arches and flat feet.

The device forming the subject matter of the present appplication'is so designed that the bones and muscles will be pulled or raised to the opposite position from that which they assume when the foot is being used. This reversal of the position of the muscles and bones will not only rest the arch and ankle, but it will also strengthen the ligaments and muscles attached to the bones of the arch and ankle in the same manner that a proper kind of exercise will strengthen any muscle of the body.

The device more specifically described embodies a base member, upon which the feet are placed. It further embodies means for securing the feet to the base member, and also means forengaging the leg above the ankle and exerting an upward pull thereon which will reverse the positionof the bones in the arch and ankle and stretch the ligaments and muscles attached to the same. 7

One form which my invention may assume is exemplified in the followingdescription and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the ankle tension board and arch developer.

Fig. 2 is a front view.

-Fig. 3 is a plan view of the leg tension bars.

Fig.4 is a perspective view of one of the foot straps. I

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the leg straps.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, A indicates a base member of suitable construction, which is maintained in a somewhat elevated position by means of side and end sections, such as indicated at 2 and 3. Positioned in the center portion of thebase is a bushing or ferrule 4, and extending therethrough and guided thereby is a tension screw generally indicated at B. Theupper end of the tension screw is provided with a handle 4*, by which turning movement is imparted thereto, while the lower end is attached to a cross the legs of the person being treated as will hereinafter be described.

The leg tension bars are identical in construction, each consisting of a base portion 9 which'is riveted or otherwise secured to the side of the nut 8,v and each bar further consisting oi upwardly and outwardly extending arms 10, which are adapted to straddle the legs of the person to be treated. Adapted to be strapped about each leg of the person to be treated is a strap such as generally indicated at D, see Fig. 5. These straps are secured by straps and buckles, as indicated at 11 and 12, respectively, and the straps proper. indicated at D, are provided with upwardly extending straps 13 and 1 1, which assume opposite positions, one in front of the leg, and one in the rear of the leg. These straps are perforated as shown at 15, and they are attached to the leg'tension bars and 11 by slipping them over pins 16 secured in the upper ends of the leg tension bars.

For the purpose of securing the feet to the base when they are being treated, a pair or" tootstraps is employed and these straps are generally indicated at E. The base A is slotted to permit the straps to be passed through the base and under the same, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and a pair of con tinuous straps may thus be used, that is the strap indicated in 4 is passed through a pair of front slots and as such forms a toe strap as indicated at 18. The opposite end of the strap is passed through a pair of rear slots and as such forms a heel strap as indicated at 19. The ends of the strap are joined in any suitable manner and as such forms a loop under the base, which is engaged by the cross bar 5. Each strap is identical in construction, there being one employed for each foot and a pair of loops are thus formed below the base, one being engaged by one end of the cross bar and Ithe other by the opposite end of the cross Jar.

In actual operation if person is to be treated, the feet are placed on the base as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the toes being passed under the loops 18 and the loops 19 being passed over the heels of the feet. The leg straps D are then applied at a point above the ankle as shown and securely fastened, and the straps 13 and 14 are then attached to the pins 16 secured on the upper ends of the leg tension bars. The handle 4 of the tension screw is finally turned in a direction which will cause upward movement of the nut 8, and downward movement of the cross bar 5. The downward movement of the cross bar will pull the loops 18 and 19 tightly and thus secure the foot, while upn'fard movement of the nut 8 and the leg tension bars will cause an upward pullto be exerted on the straps D. The pressure of the bones of the ankle is thus relieved and the arch of the foot is pulled upwardly so that it will assume the dotted line position shown at 25, see Fig. 1. This positioning of the arch, first, releases the tension of the muscles and ligaments; secondly it reverses the position of the bones, and third it causes a stretching action which has proven of material benefit, the same being true of the bones, muscles and ligaments ot the ankle. The t'eet may remain in this position as long as desired and then relaxed. and the opera- 'tion repeated and repeated. Daily treatments may be given and in most instances it has been found that the arches are strengthened and gradually built up. Pain is instantly relieved and beneficial results are at least obtained in all instances.

ll hile certain features oi the present invention are more or less specifically illustrated, i wish it understood that various changes in form and proportion may beresorted to within the scope of the appended claims, similarly that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device of the character described comprising a foot support, means for securing the heel and toes of the foot to said support, and means for exerting an upward pull on the leg of the foot at a point above the ankle.

2. A. device of the character described comprising a foot support, means for securing the heel and toes of the foot to said support, a strap adapted to be secured around the leg of the foot at a point above the ankle, means for exerting an upward pull thereon to stretch the muscles and ligaments and raise the bones of the arch and ankle of the foot.

3. A device of the character described comprising a foot support, a continuous strap passing through the support and engaging the toes and heel of a foot, 3. tension screw passing through the support and vertically movable therein, means on said tension screw en'gagingthe strap and exerting a downward pull on the toes and heel, a strap adapted to be secured around the leg of the foot above the ankle, and means car ried by the tension screw and engageable with said strap and adapted to exert an upward pull thereon.

' 4. A device of the character comprising a described foot support, a continuous strap passing through the support and engaging the toes and heel of a foot, a tension screw passing through the support and vertically movable therein, a cross bar on the lower end of the tension screw engageablc with the strap and adapted to exert a downward pull on the toes and heel of the foot, a nut on the tension screw, a pair of leg tension bars extending upwardly from the nut and disposed one in front of the leg of the foot and one at the rear thereof, a strap adapted to be secured around the leg of the foot above the ankle, and means connecting said strap with the upper ends of the tension bars.

5. A device of the character described comprising a foot support, a continuous strap passing through the support and engaging the toes and heel of a foot, a ten sion screw passing through the support and vertically movable therein, a cross bar on the lower end of the tension screw engageable with the strap and adapted to exert a downward pull on the toes and heel of the foot, a nut on the tension screw, a pair of leg tension bars extending upwardly from the nut and disposed one in front of the leg of the foot and one at the rear thereof, a strap adapted to be secured around the leg of the foot above the ankle, means connecting said strap with the upper ends of the tension bars and means for imparting a turning movement to the tension screw to depress the cross bar and to raise the nut.

FRANK M. FRIESELL. 

